FIVE POINTS BRANCH

SUPPORT FOR

OUR NEIGHBORS

October 2015

Families

Connect &

Remain

Together

Healthy

Living

And

Nutrition

Financial

Assistance &

Support

Swimming

Lessons

& Youth

Sports

Housing &

Support when

you need it

most

Did you know The Gateway Family YMCA provides scholarship assistance to our members in need,

which helps with the cost of almost every program and service we offer?

This year, thanks to the generosity of our members and donors, the Five Points Branch has

provided more than $300,000 in financial support to help our members pay for YMCA

membership, summer camp, preschool, school-age child care, and more.

This would not be possible without the support of the many people who have made it a priority to

donate to our Annual Campaign. This fund allows us to give back to our community by giving our members a place to belong, to learn

and to develop. Thank you for contributing and giving this opportunity to the people who need it most.

By making a contribution to our annual campaign, you are directly impacting those in need in your local community.

Emergency

Temporary

Supportive

Housing

Childcare

& Before

and After

School

Care

YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE & CHANGES LIVES

LEARN

GROW

THRIVE Shaping young lives is at the heart of our Youth Development programs, and helping every child grow and thrive is something we

strive for every day. Children who enroll in our Preschool Camps experience a taste of the YMCA camp atmosphere with all the

comforts of a preschool setting. One of our preschool camp families in particular found this to be just the right fit for their daughter.

This camper was new to the YMCA, and had never attended a camp program before. Her parents were apprehensive about what this

experience was going to be like for their daughter, and if the Y was the right place for summer care. “In March of 2012, she was

diagnosed with a developmental delay which shocked us, but also thrust us into 20+ hours of therapy each week with early intervention,”

her mother said. She received therapy in school and at home for three years. While she had made fantastic progress and no longer

required therapy, her family was still concerned about how attending a summer camp would work for them.

The camper’s mother spent some time speaking to Lisa, the Senior Director of Child Development about her concerns, and needed to

confirm that this would be the right decision for their family. “Speaking to (Lisa) about your summer program and our concerns put

my husband and I at ease,” the child’s mother explained. Our Early Childhood program provides children an opportunity to build new

bonds with their fellow campers as they engage in arts and crafts, physical activity, science and discovery. Each child is considered

wonderful and unique. They are encouraged to cultivate their strengths and talents while developing skills necessary to succeed.

“The preschool camps are an extension of our Early Childhood Development Center, where we focus on the development of the whole

child,” shared Lisa.

As part of the Y summer camp experience, preschool campers explore and learn through the use of multi-sensory activities that will

spark the interest of all types of little learners. “Our daughter had an amazing summer at the Five Points Branch. The experience of

putting her in a program with no special needs services, or therapy, and everyone ready to assist her if need be, gave her more

independence and confidence and allowed her to experience a kid fun program for the first time.

“This program gave our sweet girl the perfect summer and gave my husband and I the peace of mind that we needed!

Now, every time we ride past the Five Points Branch, she yells, "look guys, that's my camp!’”

Danielle Cioffi

District Executive Director